• New regulations and code proposed to raise telecoms security standards
• Will set out what telecoms providers must do to protect their networks and services
• Public consultation launched today on the proposals

Mobile and broadband networks will be better protected from cyber attacks under stronger security rules for telecoms companies proposed by the government.

The Telecommunications (Security) Act became law in November last year and puts much stronger legal duties on public telecoms providers to defend their networks from cyber threats which could cause network failure or the theft of sensitive data.

The government has today launched a public consultation on draft regulations, which outline the specific measures telecoms providers would need to take to fulfil their legal duties under the Act, and a draft code of practice on how providers can comply with the regulations.

The proposed measures and guidance, developed with the National Cyber Security Centre, aim to embed good security practices in providers’ long term investment decisions and the day-to-day running of their networks and services.

Under the draft regulations telecoms providers will be legally required to:

• protect data stored by their networks and services, and secure the critical functions which allow them to be operated and managed;
• protect tools which monitor and analyse their networks and services against access from hostile state actors;
• monitor public networks to identify potentially dangerous activity and have a deep understanding of their security risks, reporting regularly to internal boards; and
• take account of supply chain risks, and understand and control who has the ability to access and make changes to the operation of their networks and services.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said:

Broadband and mobile networks are crucial to life in Britain and that makes them a prime target for cyber criminals.

Our proposals will embed the highest security standards in our telecoms industry with heavy fines for any companies failing in their duties.

The consultation seeks views on plans to place telecoms providers into three ‘tiers’ via a new code of practice according to size and importance to UK connectivity. This will ensure steps to be taken under the code are applied proportionately and do not put an undue burden on smaller companies.

Currently, telecoms providers are responsible by law for setting their own security standards in their networks. But the Telecoms Supply Chain Review carried out by the government found providers often have little incentive to adopt the best security practices.

To deliver the revolutionary economic and social benefits of 5G and gigabit-capable broadband connections, the government created the Telecommunications (Security) Act to strengthen the overarching legal duties on providers of UK public telecoms networks and services as a way of incentivising better security practices.

Companies which fail to comply could face fines of up to ten per cent of turnover or, in the case of a continuing contravention, £100,000 per day. Ofcom will monitor and assess the security of telecoms providers.

NCSC Technical Director Dr Ian Levy said:

Modern telecoms networks are no longer just critical national infrastructure, they are central to our lives and our economy.

As our dependence on them grows, we need confidence in their security and reliability which is why I welcome these proposed regulations to fundamentally change the baseline of telecoms security.

The NCSC has worked closely with DCMS and industry to propose and advise on the most effective measures that telecoms operators can take to ensure the resilience of UK broadband and mobile networks, now and into the future.

ENDS

Notes to editors

As part of the consultation, the government is particularly interested in feedback on:

• the specific measures set out in the draft regulations and draft code of practice;
• the proposed tiering system set out in the draft code of practice, which is intended to ensure it is implemented appropriately and proportionately;
• the proposed timescales to phase-in new measures in the draft code of practice; and
• the ways in which the draft code of practice and the draft regulations account for older, legacy equipment that is due to be phased out.

The consultation on the draft code of practice meets the requirement under section 105F in the Communications Act 2003 (as amended by the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021) to consult with affected parties on the draft code of practice. The Government has chosen to consult on the draft regulations at the same time. This does not necessarily mean that future decisions to make, or vary, the regulations will be subject to similar consultation.

The Government will consider responses to the consultation to inform final policy decisions on the regulations and code of practice. The final regulations and the final code of practice will be laid in Parliament, as required by the Communications Act 2003 (as amended by the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021).

The consultation will close on 10 May. The new regulations and code of practice are expected to come into force later this year.

The Minister for Agri-innovation and Climate Adaptation Jo Churchill has set out the UK Government’s ambition to boost innovation and technology in agriculture during a visit to the UAE.

Building on the legacy of the COP26 UK Presidency – which outlined agriculture and food systems as a major priority for the climate agenda – and looking towards COP28 hosted by the UAE, Minister Churchill highlighted the importance of investment in new technologies to advance sustainable food production, particularly as global demand for food is predicted to rise by 40% by 2030.

Speaking at the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate and at the Food for Future Summit last week, the Minister outlined the need to unlock investment and partnerships to boost innovation which will support farmers and growers to produce food that is more nutritious, adaptive to climate change and resistant to disease.

As part of the visit, the Minister toured some of the most remarkable examples of low-impact and high-tech food production sites in UAE, such as the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture, an international research centre working on food security and sustainable livelihoods for communities living in marginal environments. The Minister also visited Jubail Mangrove Park to see first-hand how nature-based solutions can contribute to tackling climate change.

During her visit, Minister Churchill stressed the importance for countries like the UK and the UAE to share their knowledge in the agri-innovation field to fast-track global climate ambitions. The UK has one of the most highly regarded agricultural technology sectors in the world – from horticulture with vertical growing systems and water conservation techniques, to aquaculture with precision farm management techniques which use sensors to optimise fish health and growth.

Investment in technology and innovation is central to the UK Government’s effort to support farmers to increase the profitability of their business with less impact on the environment. That is why a range of Defra funds are available to support this ambition, including the Farming Innovation Programme and the Farming Investment Fund.

Minister for Agri-innovation and Climate Adaptation Jo Churchill said:

Agriculture and food systems are a major priority for the global climate agenda, and science and innovation play a critical role in supporting the agri-food industry to overcome the challenges posed by climate change and rising food demand.

Action in this decade is paramount. We have to maintain the momentum gained at COP26 and translate commitments into action – making climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture the most attractive and widely adopted option for farmers everywhere by 2030.

The UK Government has also established the Gilbert Initiative to help transform climate-resilient food systems through research and innovation. The initiative is a cross-Government commitment supported by FCDO, Defra, BEIS, DIT and UKRI to help address some of the biggest global challenges in food systems. This includes supporting a food system that by 2030 feeds 9 billion people with nutritious, safe food; enhancing resilience and adaptation to climate change; using environmental resources sustainably; and generating inclusive growth and jobs.

Last November, the UK saw 197 countries come together at COP26 to forge the landmark Glasgow Climate Pact, helping ensure a better world for future generations. In addition, the UK Government launched the Breakthrough Agenda, which includes an Agriculture Breakthrough, designed to promote the uptake of technological, climate resilient and sustainable agriculture practices. The UK wants to use the Breakthrough Agenda to accelerate global progress in this decade of action, by driving collaboration across leading initiatives such as AIM4Climate in support of climate-resilient, sustainable food systems.

The commitments sealed at COP26 sit alongside the UK’s domestic Net Zero strategy which sets out an ambition for 75% of farmers in England to uptake low carbon practices by 2030. Furthermore, through the new environment land management schemes, farmers and land managers will be rewarded for delivering environmental benefits alongside profitable food production, creating space for nature and enhancing animal welfare.

Landing BBC’s MasterChef at Warwick Bar in the heart of Birmingham.

The regeneration of Digbeth is one of the agency’s first actions to deliver on the Levelling Up agenda.

Homes England has worked with development firm Digbeth Loc Limited and their partners to help bring the MasterChef studios to the agency’s Warwick Bar site in central Birmingham.

Under the agreement, with Digbeth Loc the development firm run by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, Homes England will lease part of its land at Fazeley Street to Digbeth Loc, who will develop proposals for a mixed-used scheme, starting with the MasterChef production hub.

Homes England has assembled Warwick Bar – a collection of derelict and brownfield sites around Digbeth to help catalyse the wider regeneration of Digbeth.

The regeneration of the wider Warwick Bar site will have a transformational impact on central Birmingham and the wider economy, bringing around 1,000 new homes, and around 270,000 sq ft of employment or educational floor space.

Accelerating the delivery of one of London’s biggest regeneration projects.

Through a £100m infrastructure loan, Homes England is bringing forward the completion date of one of London’s largest regeneration schemes by three years.

Canada Water will be the first new town centre in London in 50 years: a truly mixed-use new urban centre, built for the future.

Over the next twelve years, the 53-acre masterplan will deliver a new high street and town square, up to 3,000 new net zero carbon homes, 2 million sq ft of workspace accommodating 20,000 workers, a range of other public amenities and 16 extra acres of parks and places to pause and relax.

The £100m loan from Homes England is supporting British Land to fund new transport infrastructure, affordable homes, the town centre, and the development’s sustainability strategy.

Boosting lending for SMEs looking to build sustainable homes.

Alongside Octopus Real Estate, Homes England has launched the Greener Homes Alliance, a new £175m lending alliance.

The Alliance will provide loan finance and expert support to SME housebuilders, enabling them to build more high quality, energy efficient homes throughout England.

Homes funded must achieve a minimum sustainability level and will benefit from increasing interest rate margin discounts as the energy efficiency of the homes increases above this.

This new partnership, the latest in a series of impactful lending alliances, will give smaller housebuilders both the funding and the knowledge needed to build more sustainable homes.

Supporting new investment in affordable housing.

Long-term institutional investment in affordable housing can help meet the needs of communities across the country.

Homes England recently invested £20m in Man Global Private Markets (GPM) new Community Housing Fund.

The investment forms part of a wider equity raising exercise by Man to build a £400m fund to deliver 3,000 new affordable homes by 2026.

Additionally, we recently agreed a £10m investment with M&G to support the launch of their Shared Ownership Fund.

The investment from Homes England will help accelerate the delivery of 2,000 affordable homes through M&G’s new for-profit registered provider. Initially working in partnership with The Hyde Group, the fund can offer affordable housing providers capital to build new homes.

Homes England’s commitment to the fund is a strong signal that the Government sees significant opportunities for domestic and international institutional capital to support the delivery of new affordable housing.

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